Newent Rugby Club are too strong for Dursley

GLOUCESTER Premier leaders Newent blew away spirited but physically overmatched opponents on a stormy afternoon in conditions which were thoroughly unpleasant for players and spectators alike.

Newent had the try bonus point wrapped up inside the first quarter and led 50-0 at half time.

From the first scrum it was clear that Newent had a huge superiority in this department, so it was no surprise when they disrupted a Dursley-fed scrum in the shadow of the posts and Dom Matthews claimed the first touchdown as he was quickest to the loose ball. Joe Goatley added the extras.

The second try also stemmed from a scrum, this one a Newent put-in on the 10-metre line. Joe Goatley’s break was taken on by John Duffin before the ball was spun left along the backs.

Although a pass failed to go to hand Brett Gardner was in the line off the right wing and picked up the loose ball to touch down in the left hand corner.

Another strong run from Duffin set up quick ball for Goatley to barge his way over by the posts for try number three and the big fly-half repeated the trick in the next attack, set up by some slick handling among the backs.

Newent attacked again from the restart and after more slick handling Gardner fed Goatley on the overlap to set up his hat trick of tries in just seven minutes.

With Goatley converting all his tries, Newent’s lead was extended to 33-0 after 22 minutes play.

Another sweeping attack featuring powerful charges from Tristan Veale and Duffin ended with the ball moving sweetly along the line for Charlie Gellert to present Gardner with the easiest of finishes.

Outside centre Charlie Gellert notched up Newent’s seventh try with a stylish run in under the posts from 22 metres out and on the stroke of half time James Parker claimed try number eight when he was quickest to react as the ball squirted out of yet another disrupted Dursley scrum close to their line. Joe Goatley converted both.

Coach Andy Addis reshuffled his backs for the second half, with Tommy Devries –another to earn a first team opportunity on the back of consistently good performances for the Seconds- coming on for Charlie Gellert and slotting in at scrum half, with Dom Matthews switching to fly half and Joe Goatley to the centre.

With the elements in their faces Newent had to adapt their game and played it much tighter in the second half.

The half was 12 minutes old before Newent added to their account. Another powerful surge from Goatley was stopped just short of the line but James Parker was on hand to pick up and crash over for a try which Goatley converted.

The hard-grafting Parker claimed his third try and Newent’s 10th 25 minutes into the half. Goatley converted.

Newent claimed their last try with the final play of the game. Fittingly it came from the turnover of a Dursley-fed five-metre scrum. The ball was sent blind to Goatley who needed all his strength and guile to finish in the left hand corner. His conversion attempt went wide, leaving him with just the 34 points to his name.